Five Films Phobics Need to Avoid

Bust out your dog-eared copy of the DSM-IV (aka the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) and pick your favorite (or your own) diagnosis. Chances are there's at least one movie out there that will push a big red button in your brain in a bad way. Lucky for you, I'm not just a movie nerd or the type of person who owns important leather-bound books and can get reservations at Nobu for the same evening, I also dabble in armchair psychology. So I'm here to help you figure out the best movies to avoid based on your own DSM-IV diagnoses. Or maybe mine. I will never tell.

1. Claustrophobia: The Descent 1 & 2
If you're afraid of small, tight spaces and getting stuck in them, you should absolutely avoid these white-knuckle horror films. Why? Because the people are under the effing ground! Not only that, but they're often forced to squeeze through tight spaces while trying to flee grotesque monsters who would like nothing more than to make a snack of these spelunkers. I can only vouch for the first movie, really, because as soon as I sat down, I thought to myself, "Why the hell am I here?" Then I enjoyed the movie. Then I had nightmares.